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With the beginning of fall camps mere weeks away, and the 2015 college football season shortly behind it, it is time to offer my predictions on how the Big 12 will play out. These are not pre-season power rankings, but rather how I forsee the standings when all the games have been played.
Call me soothsayer, or call me idiot; I present to you my predictions for the 2015 Big 12 Conference.
#1 – TCU Horned Frogs
Win Total O/U: 10
Odds to win Big 12: +180
Odds to win National Championship: +1050
Final Record: 11-1 (8-1)
Loss: @Oklahoma
Almost everyone expects TCU to run through their competition this season en route to the school’s (as well as the Big 12’s) first College Football Playoff berth. I, however, don't believe they escape the gauntlet unscathed and am picking them to lose their only game (yes, ONLY game) November 21st.
#2 – Oklahoma Sooners
Win Total O/U: 8.5
Odds to win Big 12: +550
Odds to win National Championship: +4000
Final Record: 10-2 (7-2)
Losses: @Baylor, @Oklahoma State
I will continue to believe Oklahoma is a perennial power until proven otherwise, and last season’s struggles serve only as fuel for this team to regain their position at the top. After an unofficial bye week November 7th the Sooners end their season @ Baylor, TCU, @ OSU. Ouch.
#3 – Baylor Bears
Win Total O/U: 10
Odds to win Big 12: +250
Odds to win National Championship: +2500
Final Record: 10-2 (7-2)
Losses: @Kansas State, @TCU
Breaking in a new quarterback seems to mean little to those in Waco, and for good reason, but Baylor also has a history of losing games on the road and Manhattan is the Bears' first true test in 2015.
#4 – Oklahoma State Cowboys
Win Total O/U: 7.5
Odds to win Big 12: +700
Odds to win National Championship: +9000
Final Record: 8-4 (5-4)
Losses: @Texas, @West Virginia, TCU, Baylor
Mike Gundy has been great at competing for middle ground in the Big 12, with the notable exception of 2011, of course. This year should be another solid disappointing season for Cowboy fans.
#5 – West Virginia Mountaineers
Win Total O/U: 7.5
Odds to win Big 12: +1700
Odds to win National Championship: +20000
Final Record: 8-4 (5-4)
Losses: @ Oklahoma, @ Baylor, @ TCU, Iowa State (hey, it’s Thanksgiving weekend, anything can happen)
West Virginia’s schedule is brutal to begin conference play, and playing Oklahoma, Baylor and TCU all on the road during October is downright offensive. If they can weather the storm, late season momentum can carry them to a 5th place finish.
#6 – Iowa State Cyclones
Win Total O/U: 3
Odds to win Big 12: +15000
Odds to win National Championship: +120000
Final Record: 6-6 (4-5)
Losses: @Toledo, TCU, @Baylor, @Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, @Kansas State
So, you're saying there’s a chance!
Go ahead and hate on me. Everyone wants to expect the worst this season, and after the past two years, who can blame you? But it’s almost August and damn it, I want to believe.
#7 – Texas Longhorns
Win Total O/U: 6
Odds to win Big 12: +1200
Odds to win National Championship: +8000
Final Record: 6-6 (4-5)
Losses: @Notre Dame, @TCU, Oklahoma, @Iowa State, @West Virginia, @Baylor
A second season with only six wins will put Charlie Strong unfairly in the hot seat, especially with the recently released rumor that Nick Satan really wanted to coach in Austin. Strong will get there, but is he strong enough to ignore the naysayers?
#8 – Kansas State Wildcats
Win Total O/U: 7
Odds to win Big 12: +1300
Odds to win National Championship: +17500
Final Record: 6-6 (3-6)
Losses: @Oklahoma State, TCU, Oklahoma, @Texas, Baylor, West Virginia
Even the most potent wizardry wears off eventually. Right?
#9 – Texas Tech Red Raiders
Win Total O/U: 5.5
Odds to win Big 12: +4000
Odds to win National Championship: +27500
Final Record: 3-9 (1-8)
Losses: @Arkansas, TCU, Baylor, Iowa State, @Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, @West Virginia, Kansas State, @Texas
I’ll admit that, on paper, this looks a little too far-fetched. But it’s Taco Tech, so screw ‘em.
#10 – Kansas Jayhawks
Win Total O/U: 1.5
Odds to win Big 12: +50000
Odds to win National Championship: +17500
Final Record: 0-12 (0-9)
Losses: All of them
The good news is it's Kansas, so literally nobody cares.
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